The Girl and the Hidden Trail

by A.J. Rivers

Mark and Jill Pearson were often home alone.
One hot summer day, they were taken.

Penny Pearson lived her life dedicated to her siblings.
Her mother worked late and was hardly home, leaving Penny as the primary caretaker most days.
But every summer, Penny left to work at the nearby camp.
That summer would change her life forever.

FBI agent Emma Griffin has had to solve many grim cases.
When she is called to investigate the skeletal remains of an adult man, forensics soon connected them to a missing-person case from over a decade Mark Pearson.

Could Jill Pearson still be alive?
As Emma dives deeper into the case, she uncovers a very dark secret.
One that has kept a small community frozen in time.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2026

Reviews

[Paula B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a series!

This series really gets the reader into the story. So much so that when one book ends, you simply can't wait for the next one. AJ Rivers is the queen of the cliffhanger. And this book has another doozy. Just when it looks like Emma is about to get answers, she gets a whole new set of questions. And we are along for the ride.

[Kelly Smelcer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This season of Emma Griffin just keeps getting better and better! While trying to uncover Doe's identity, Emma is pulled into another case with so many twists it'll keep your head spinning. Don't miss this one!

[rubin lichtenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great story by master storyteller

I love the progression this story line is following and I have only one pressing minor question that keeps bothering me. How can Dean, a private investigator who is a felon be allowed to have a license and a firearm?

[Marianne Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Providing Background

While it is always good to reconnect with Emma, this felt more like providing background. This was obviously a bridge to connecting many plot lines. It is definitely important to the series, but it's frustrating.

[Barbara Kaake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent story about Emma searching for Does identity and another case with missing people and bones and wondering if Emma will find answers and solve with lots of suspense and drama. Thank you for this awesome story.

[Janice Stansell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of your seat for the next development

Don’t know why I thought maybe this time wouldn’t be a cliffhanger! Aargh! I was captivated by this investigation and all its twist and turns! Looks like there will be more twists to come!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story! Emma and Dean are on point, as usual. Doe's story is getting closer to being solved, and there are so many plot twists! I loved it and can't wait for the next one!

[Danielle Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

cliffhanger

Nothing like a cliffhanger, now I have to wait until April :( I will be counting down until the next installment!!

[Michael Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

cliffhanger!!

I don’t like cliffhangers and this one leaves you hanging! Emma is hot on the trail and now I have to wait

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t understand the thought process of just randomly stopping the story